Vehicle trailer coupling mechanism and vehicle support

Abstract

A coupling/locking mechanism, that includes a first and second coupling/locking portion, each having their respective housing that includes (i) first/second prongs comprising first/second cavities and tapered engaging ends, (ii) first/second semi-spherical ball locks configured in the cavities, and (iii) first/second openings. During engagement, the first tapered end is configured to contact a face of the second semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the second opening, and the second tapered end is configured to contact a face of the first semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the first opening to rotatably align the first and second semi-spherical balls along a joining plane to form a spherical ball lock in the cavity of the first prong and the cavity of the second prong. A spur gear engages with the spherical ball lock to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to a configured offset plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coupling mechanism, comprising:
 a first locking portion, comprising (i) a first housing, (ii) a first prong, comprising a first cavity and a first tapered engaging end, (iii) a first semi-spherical ball lock, configured within the cavity of the first prong, and a (iv) first opening in the first housing; and   a second locking portion, configured to engage with the first locking portion, the second locking portion comprising (i) a second housing, (ii) a second prong, comprising a second cavity and a second tapered engaging end, (iii) a second semi-spherical ball lock, configured within the cavity of the second prong, and a (iv) second opening in the second housing,   wherein, during engagement, the first tapered end is configured to contact a face of the second semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the second opening, and the second tapered end is configured to contact a face of the first semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the first opening to rotatably align the first and second semi-spherical balls along a joining plane to form a spherical ball lock in the cavity of the first prong and the cavity of the second prong.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a spur gear, configured to engage with the spherical ball lock, wherein the spur gear is configured to engage with the spherical ball lock to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to a configured offset plane for preventing the first locking portion and second locking portion from disengaging. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the spur gear is configured to engage with the first semi-spherical ball lock via gear couplings to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the spur gear is configured to further engage with the spherical ball lock to rotatably align the spherical ball lock back from the configured offset plane to the joining plane. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 2 , further comprising a motor, operatively coupled to the spur gear, wherein the motor is configured to drive the spur gear to rotatably align the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to the configured offset plane. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrical connection paths, configured within the first prong and/or the second prong, the one or more electrical connection paths being configured to transmit electrical and/or data signals between the first locking portion and the second locking portion. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking portion is configured on a vehicle, and the second locking portion is configured on a trailer. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a coupling mechanism, comprising:
 positioning a first locking portion for engagement with a second locking portion,
 the first locking portion comprising (i) a first housing, (ii) a first prong, comprising a first cavity and a first tapered engaging end, (iii) a first semi-spherical ball lock, configured within the cavity of the first prong, and a (iv) first opening in the first housing, and 
 the second locking portion comprising (i) a second housing, (ii) a second prong, comprising a second cavity and a second tapered engaging end, (iii) a second semi-spherical ball lock, configured within the cavity of the second prong, and a (iv) second opening in the second housing; 
   engaging the first locking portion with the second locking by positioning the first tapered end to contact a face of the second semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the second opening, and positioning the second tapered end to contact a face of the first semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the first opening to rotatably align the first and second semi-spherical balls along a joining plane to form a spherical ball lock in the cavity of the first prong and the cavity of the second prong.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising engaging a spur gear with the spherical ball lock to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to a configured offset plane for preventing the first locking portion and second locking portion from disengaging. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein engaging the spur gear comprises engaging with the first semi-spherical ball lock via gear couplings to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising engaging the spur gear to rotatably align the spherical ball lock back from the configured offset plane to the joining plane. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein engaging the spur gear comprises engaging the spur gear via a motor, operatively coupled to the spur gear, to drive the spur gear to rotatably align the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to the configured offset plane after the engagement. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising activating one or more electrical connection paths, configured within the first prong and/or the second prong, for transmitting electrical and/or data signals between the first locking portion and the second locking portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein engaging the first locking portion with the second locking portion comprises engaging the first locking portion configured on a vehicle with the second locking portion configured on a trailer. 
     
     
         15 . A coupling mechanism, comprising:
 a first locking portion configured on a vehicle, the first locking portion comprising (i) a first housing, (ii) a first prong, comprising a first cavity and a first tapered engaging end, (iii) a first semi-spherical ball lock, configured within the cavity of the first prong, and a (iv) first opening in the first housing; and   a second locking portion configured on a trailer, the second locking portion configured to engage with the first locking portion, and the second locking portion comprising (i) a second housing, (ii) a second prong, comprising a second cavity and a second tapered engaging end, (iii) a second semi-spherical ball lock, configured within the cavity of the second prong, and a (iv) second opening in the second housing,   wherein, during engagement, the first tapered end is configured to contact a face of the second semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the second opening, and the second tapered end is configured to contact a face of the first semi-spherical ball lock locking portion through the first opening to rotatably align the first and second semi-spherical balls along a joining plane to form a spherical ball lock in the cavity of the first prong and the cavity of the second prong.   
     
     
         16 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 15 , further comprising a spur gear, configured to engage with the spherical ball lock, wherein the spur gear is configured to engage with the spherical ball lock to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to a configured offset plane for preventing the first locking portion and second locking portion from disengaging. 
     
     
         17 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the spur gear is configured to engage with the first semi-spherical ball lock via gear couplings to rotatably offset the spherical ball lock. 
     
     
         18 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the spur gear is configured to further engage with the spherical ball lock to rotatably align the spherical ball lock back from the configured offset plane to the joining plane. 
     
     
         19 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 16 , further comprising a motor, operatively coupled to the spur gear, wherein the motor is configured to drive the spur gear to rotatably align the spherical ball lock from the joining plane to the configured offset plane. 
     
     
         20 . The coupling mechanism of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more electrical connection paths, configured within the first prong and/or the second prong, the one or more electrical connection paths being configured to transmit electrical and/or data signals between the first locking portion and the second locking portion.